Hi all,
I would appreciate some guidance on the concepts of sticking and following and listening and how they relate to fang song. Thank you.
Juan
sticking and following
Moderator:Scott M. Rodell
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Juan Botero
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Roland Tepp
- Rank: Chang San feng
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Sticking
Actually - the way I've come to understand these principles, they are pretty self-explanatory.
On the other hand - on their own these phrases mean next to nothing. You need to put them into the context.
Simplest way to create the context is two person drills of push-hand basic exercises. Let's take first two exercises - pushing (and yielding) on the easy side or hard side.
Sticking here means that whenever you are being pushed, you don't resist not yank yourself away from the push. You "stick" to it. One aspect of it is that you do not force your movement, but instead "borrow" it from the duifang. As he gives your energy with his push, you adapt to that energy and move along with it basically forfeiting any initiative to move.
The analogy is as with a simple door (well oiled and not locked
) - it stands on its own and has no initiative to move either way until someone comes and pushes the door. The door moves with the push and as soon as the energy of the push is depleted (or voided), the door stops moving - e.g. it "sticks" to the energy/intent of the push.
On the other hand - on their own these phrases mean next to nothing. You need to put them into the context.
Simplest way to create the context is two person drills of push-hand basic exercises. Let's take first two exercises - pushing (and yielding) on the easy side or hard side.
Sticking here means that whenever you are being pushed, you don't resist not yank yourself away from the push. You "stick" to it. One aspect of it is that you do not force your movement, but instead "borrow" it from the duifang. As he gives your energy with his push, you adapt to that energy and move along with it basically forfeiting any initiative to move.
The analogy is as with a simple door (well oiled and not locked
) - it stands on its own and has no initiative to move either way until someone comes and pushes the door. The door moves with the push and as soon as the energy of the push is depleted (or voided), the door stops moving - e.g. it "sticks" to the energy/intent of the push.Roland
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Roland Tepp
- Rank: Chang San feng
- Posts:107
- Joined:Wed Jan 28, 2004 5:34 pm
- Location:Tallinn, Estonia
- Contact:
Following
Without "following", the sticking alone makes you a dead weight ready to be pushed around.
The way I understand "following" here it that you are controlling the movement in a conscious manner - not simply "letting it go"... You need to "follow" the energy of the push in a sense that you need to be aware of how strong is it, where is it directed to and how that affects your body. At the same time making adjustments to your body so that the push would be voided, directing the force away from your center line and if possible turning the energy of the push around against the duifang himself.
It also means that when duifang pulls back from the push, this is also energy from the duifang - you need to capture that energy, stick to it and "follow" it, "borrowing" the initiative.
In short you need to "follow" the energy the duifang gives you and all the changes in that energy as well (maybe he changes the direction of the push - or changes from push to something else)
To "stick" and to "follow", you need to "listen". But instead of listening with just your ears, you use all of your senses. Specially touch. To listen you need to let go of all the tension (as any tension reduces sensitivity) any expectations or preferences. You need to be sensitive enough to actually feel upon touch (and as you advance even without physical touch as for example in sanshou or swordplay) the intention of the duifang, so you can stick to duifang's energy and follow it.
The way I understand "following" here it that you are controlling the movement in a conscious manner - not simply "letting it go"... You need to "follow" the energy of the push in a sense that you need to be aware of how strong is it, where is it directed to and how that affects your body. At the same time making adjustments to your body so that the push would be voided, directing the force away from your center line and if possible turning the energy of the push around against the duifang himself.
It also means that when duifang pulls back from the push, this is also energy from the duifang - you need to capture that energy, stick to it and "follow" it, "borrowing" the initiative.
In short you need to "follow" the energy the duifang gives you and all the changes in that energy as well (maybe he changes the direction of the push - or changes from push to something else)
To "stick" and to "follow", you need to "listen". But instead of listening with just your ears, you use all of your senses. Specially touch. To listen you need to let go of all the tension (as any tension reduces sensitivity) any expectations or preferences. You need to be sensitive enough to actually feel upon touch (and as you advance even without physical touch as for example in sanshou or swordplay) the intention of the duifang, so you can stick to duifang's energy and follow it.
Roland
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Juan Botero
- Rank: Frequent Contributor
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- Joined:Wed Jun 07, 2006 3:27 pm
- Location:Washington, DC